FCI-Standard N° 347 / 18.12.2002 / GB ~ WHITE SWISS SHEPHERD DOG ~ (Berger Blanc Suisse) (Weisser Schweizer Schäferhund) Origin: Switzerland Date of publication of the original valid standard: 04. 07. 2011.
Utilization: Family and working companion dog with distinctive friendly nature to children; attentive watchdog, cheerful and quick to learn.
Classification F.C.I.: Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs). Section 1 Sheepdogs. Without working trial.
General Appearance: A powerful, well-muscled, medium-sized, white shepherd dog with erect ears, double coat or long double coat; elongated shape; medium sized bone and elegant, harmonious outline.
Important Proportions:
Moderately long rectangular shape : body length (from the point of shoulder to point of buttock) to height at withers = 12 : 10. The distance from the stop to the nose leather slightly beyond the distance from the stop to the occipital protuberance.
Behaviour/Character: Lively, without nervousness, attentive and watchful; towards strangers sometimes slightly aloof but never apprehensive or aggressive.
Head: Strong, dry and finely chiselled, in good proportion to the body. Seen from above and from the side wedge-shaped. Axes of skull and foreface parallel.
Cranial Region:
Skull : Only slightly rounded; indicated central furrow. Stop : Slightly marked, but clearly perceptible.
Facial Region:
Nose: Medium-sized; black pigmentation desired; snow nose and lighter nose accepted. Muzzle : Powerful and moderately long in relation to the skull; nasal bridge and lower line of muzzle straight, slightly convergent to the nose. Lips: Dry , closing tightly, as black as possible. Jaws/Teeth: Powerful and complete, scissor bite. The teeth should be set square to the jaw. Eyes: Medium-sized, almond shaped, placed a little obliquely; colour brown to dark-brown; eye lids well fitting with black eye-rims desirable. Ears: Erect ears, set high, carried upright, parallel and directed forward; in the shape of an oblong, at the tip slightly rounded triangle.
Neck: Medium-long and well muscled, with harmonious set on at the body, without dewlap; the elegantly arched neckline runs without disruption from the moderately high carried head to the withers.
Body: Strong, muscular, medium-long.
Withers: Pronounced. Back: Level, firm. Loins: Strongly muscled. Croup: Long and of medium breadth; from the set on gently sloping to root of tail. Chest: Not too broad; deep (about 50 % of the height at the withers); reaching to the elbows; ribcage oval; well extending to the rear. Prominent forechest. Belly and flanks : Flanks slender, firm; underline moderately tucked up.
Tail: Bushy sabre tail, tapering to the tip; set on rather deep; reaching at least to the hock joint; at rest, it hangs either straight down or with a slight saber-like curve in its last third part; in movement carried higher, but never above the topline.
Limbs: Strong, sinewy, medium bone.
Forequarters: Straight, seen from the front; only moderately broad stance; seen in profile, well angulated.
Shoulder: Shoulder blade long and well laid back; well angulated; whole shoulder strongly muscled. Upper arm: Adequately long, strong muscles. Elbows: Close fitting. Forearm: Long, straight, sinewy. Pastern: Firm and only slightly oblique.
Hindquarters: Seen from the rear straight and parallel; standing not too wide; seen from the side with adequate angulation.
Upper thigh: Medium-long, strongly muscled. Lower thigh: Medium-long, oblique, with solid bone and well muscled. Hock joint: Powerful, well angulated. Hock: Medium-long, straight, sinewy; dewclaws should be removed, except in countries where their removal is forbidden by law. Feet: Oval, hind feet a little longer than forefeet; toes tight and well arched; firm black pads; dark nails desired.
Gait: Rhythmical sequence of steps with even drive and enduring; front legs reaching out far, with strong thrust; trot ground covering and easy.
Skin: Without folds and wrinkles; dark pigmentation.
Coat: Hair: Medium length, dense, close-lying double coat or long double coat; abundant undercoat covered with hard, straight protection hair; face, ears and front of legs are covered with shorter hair; at the neck and the back of the legs the coat is slightly longer. Slightly wavy, hard hair is permitted.
Colour: White
Size and Weight:
Height at withers: Dogs 60 - 66 cm. Bitches 55 - 61 cm. Weight: Dogs : ca. 30 - 40 kg. Bitches: ca. 25 - 35 kg. Typical dogs with slight under- or oversize should not be eliminated.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the serious- ness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Minor Faults:
- Slight deer colour (light yellow or fawny shading) on eartips, back and upperside of the tail. - Partial loss of pigment of flecked appearance on noseleather, lips and/or eye rims.
Serious Faults:
- Heavy appearance, too short build (square outline) - Masculinity or femininity not clearly defined . - Missing more than two PM1; the M3 are not taken into account. - Drop (hanging) ears, semi-pricked ears, button ears. - Strongly sloping backline. - Ringtail, kinky tail, hook tail, tail carried over back. - Soft, silky topcoat; woolly, curly, open coat; distinctly long hair without undercoat. - Distinct deer colour (distinct yellowish or tawny discolouring) on eartips, back and upperside of the tail.
NB: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.